Do you have a birthday verse?

A friend turned me on to this idea as she explained the concept of a birthday verse. 

First, take the number of the month and day of your birthday. For me, that’s three (March) and sixteen.

Second, check the chapter and verse for each book of Scripture that corresponds to your numbers, like Genesis 3:16, Exodus 3:16, Leviticus 3:16, and so on. 

Find a verse that resonates with you and claim it. 

Warning: These verses may make you laugh or cry depending on where you land. I’ve listed some of my Old Testament favorites:

Genesis 3:16 “To the woman he said, ‘I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.’” (Ha! Gotta’ love it!)

Leviticus 3:16 “The priest shall burn them on the altar as a food offering, a pleasing aroma. All the fat is the Lord’s.” (Yes, Lord, take the fat. All of it.)

Lamentations 3:16 “He has broken my teeth with gravel; he has trampled me in the dust.” (Yikes!)

Malachi 3:16 “Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored his name.” (Okay, not bad.)

The New Testament proved a little more positive, especially since staples like John 3:16 and 2 Timothy 3:16 go into my mix—then I read:

Romans 3:16 “ruin and misery mark their ways” (Great.)

Revelation 3:16 “So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” (Are you trying to tell me something, Lord?)

This birthday verse made the final pick:

Proverbs 3:16 “Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.”

The verse refers to Wisdom who is personified in Proverbs. It reminds me that I need God’s wisdom, not my own. It also reminds me that my life and my writing success rests in His hands. I must work faithfully, but the results remain His alone. 

Have fun searching for your verse this week. Please share it with me!